10/25/2022

ripping out the flowers

 freezing temps are here

so today the landscape guys

rip out the flowers

lining the walk below 


from my window I see him bend

and yank entire plants up

chucking them root ball and all

into black plastic garbage cans

shoving them down to fit more


he makes quick work

of a twelve foot stretch

vibrant blooms peeking out 

from the can as he hoists it

to his shoulder and hauls it away


it seems such a waste—

a merciless, unnecessary razing

but these guys know their work

must know that in a week's time

the color will be gone

the flowers dry and dead


theirs is the preemptive mercy

of harvesting before the beauty fades

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